South Island Monday 6.4.15 Dunedin to Owaka

Said goodbye to Peter and Maya at Leithview after a good breakfast and a visit to the cows being milked. Drove through good sheep country to Balclutha where we called into the I Site for information on the Catlins.  After a cup of tea continued on to Owaka along the scenic coastal route.  Our BnB for tonight (Catlins Retreat) was at the beginning of the little town and Robbie, the host, met us at

A portion of Teapot World, Owaka. This lady has a couple of thousand teapots arranged in the front garden. Invites people to take photos and nobody interferes with them. Amazing.

Hookers Sea Lions

Purakanui Falls

the door in his wood collecting clothes. Quite a character, very warm and welcoming. The home is a lovely old wooden NZ home , fires going etc.  Lunch at a cafe, carrot soup with cumin.
 Our afternoon's activities took us first of all out to Purakanui Falls. The bush on the walk to the falls was magnificent and the falls themselves very pretty. Drove back through Owaka and out to Cannibal Bay. The weather was looking threatening and the wind was strong but we strode up the beach to find sea lions. Very large males with thick white neck ruffs haul out here. Back to the car as the rain arrived but fortunately it cleared pretty much before we got to Nugget Point. Walked out to the Cliff Lookout before going downhill to the lookout over Roaring Beach where yellow eyed penguins come in later in the afternoon. Sadly, only two turned up and the hide is high above the beach so we had only a distant view. Back up the hill and back to Owaka.
For dinner we walked up the street to the Lumberjack Cafe. Had a great meal. Delicious blue cod and veg and not a chip in sight . So good we decided to have dessert. Hot boysenberries and ice cream. A lovely restaurant (open fire etc) in a tiny town. Such a surprise.